Cease and Desist!

Hebrews 12:1-7 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

 

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord,

and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves,

and He chastises every son He receives.”

7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons..

 

To Redeem Us

 

The whole purpose of Jesus giving His life up for us on that cross was to put our sins to death with Him so that, by faith in Him, we will now die with Him to sin. And He rose victorious out of the grave in victory over sin, Satan, death, and hell so that we, by faith in Him, might live for Him in walks of obedience to His commands. For He shed His blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our bondage (addiction) to sin so that we will now walk in victory over sin as servants of righteousness.

 

Therefore, as those who profess faith in Jesus Christ we are to throw off (get rid of) everything which might lead us into sin as well as all sinful patterns of behavior. Many professing Christians keep returning to the same sins over again mainly because of what is stored up in their hearts which they have failed to let go of and to get rid of and because they will not let go of the things that they love in this world which keep leading them into sin. So this is an encouragement to get rid of those things which lead people into sin.

 

Put Off and Put On

 

But the Scriptures do not teach merely to get rid of the sin, but to now put on Christ and His righteousness in walks of obedience to His commands. We put off lying. We put on telling the truth. We put off laziness and we put on perseverance and dedication. We put off lust and we put on love for God and for other humans. We put off faithlessness and we put on faithfulness. For if we do the “put offs” but we don’t replace them with the “put ons,” it will be very easy to go right back to the sin and to not have victory over sin.

 

But we don’t do this in the flesh by our own design and purpose. We do not get to choose what faith looks like. God does! Trying to let go of sin in the flesh will not work. For Jesus Christ is the author and the perfecter of our faith, not us. So we must stay focused on Him and on His plan and purpose for our lives. And we must do things God’s way in His power and strength and wisdom. The “My Do It” approach to conquering sinful practices is bound to fail. If we do not follow God’s instructions we are bound to fail every time.

 

Not Freedom to Keep Sinning

 

Just please know that God does not give those who profess His name the freedom to keep on in their habitual sin. Yes, it is possible for a true follower of Christ to sin. It might happen. But the Scriptures teach clearly that if sin is our habit, what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord, that we do not know God. We are not born of God. We are not in fellowship with God. And we do not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God. So do not play with sin. Don’t do life your way! Do life God’s way in His power and strength.

 

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to Him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) Him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to His commands, in His power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

Cease and Desist!

An Original Work / September 23, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

Near the Cross 

 

Hymn lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, 1869

Music by William H. Doane, 1869

 

Jesus, keep me near the cross;

There a precious fountain,

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calvary's mountain.

 

Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the bright and morning star

Sheds its beams around me.

          

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day

With its shadow o'er me.

 

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,

Hoping, trusting ever,

Till I reach the golden strand

Just beyond the river.

        

In the cross, in the cross,

Be my glory ever,

Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.

 

https://youtu.be/Xrmlv806bGM?si=2UEIyPZ01xCiV2W1

 

Caution: This link may contain ads